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The LangaList
Standard Edition

2005-03-17

A Free Email Newsletter from Fred Langa
That Helps You Get More From Your Hardware, 
Software, and Time Online

Please visit our sponsors and help keep the LangaList S.E. free!

1) Washing--- Yes, *Washing*--- Your PC's Guts

In "Rust Never Sleeps" ( http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=159401313 ) we discuss "How To Deal With Moisture And Corrosion In Your PC;" a topic that especially pertains to PCs in non-air-conditioned spaces--- you'd be surprised how many times a mysterious gremlin in a PC turns out to be a connection erratically going bad due to an almost invisible layer of corrosion!

In that article we look at a number of anti-corrosion liquids, pastes, and sprays; and some cleaning measures which range from the basic to, well, check this out:

Hi, Fred: When I worked for Tektronix, we WASHED oscilloscopes when they came in for R&R (repair & recalibration). There were some parts we had to avoid getting direct spray on, such as [power supply] transformers with open windings and assemblies where water might get trapped....

I think that a really dirty computer could be cleaned the same way. The time it takes might be worth having a clean machine. The procedure would go like this:

1. Inspect the motherboard for water sensitive components. Decide if the procedure can be done without damage. For instance, the clock battery should be removed to avoid trapping [water] in its holder.

2. Remove all the cards and sub-assemblies....

3. Rinse well and let dry (you could even put it in an oven at 125 degrees to "bake out").

---Bill Roberts

Indeed, you can wash many electronic parts in pure water to remove surface contaminants (including salt, dust, dirt, dried liquids and the like). We've written about it several times before, including here http://langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-11-01.htm#3 . Byte's Jerry Pournelle also once memorably described taking his favorite keyboard into the shower to revive it after he spilled a sticky drink on the keys. And other readers in IT departments and computer repair shops report that they've loaded dishwashers with floppy drives, printer parts, and so on: Basically, any solid or flat-surfaced part that water can get to, and dry from (e.g. a circuit board), is a theoretical candidate for washing. Enclosed devices (including enclosed subassemblies, like power supplies) are not.

Of course, a water wash is an extreme step, and should not be undertaken lightly; it's really sort of a last resort, and should only be attempted with parts that are facing some serious problem caused by surface contamination.

And that's where the rest of the article comes in; offering more detail on water-washing, and also talking about the less-drastic measures you can take to clean a PC that's having corrosion problems; or better still, to prevent such problems in the first place!

Click on over to
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=159401313 and then join the discussion: Have you encountered corrosion or related problems in your PCs? How did you correct the problem? Let's pool our knowledge: Share your techniques with your fellow readers in the discussion forum!

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--- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList S.E. Free! ) ---

"Dear Fred, I received the first of your Plus Editions this Monday and I
was rapt. I have been a subscriber of the standard edition for many many
many years but never got the plus edition [until now].... I have found
your newsletter to be an invaluable source of essential information that
has gently guided me through several changes in the PC world. Thanks Fred.
Kind regards, Cathryn Sanders"

Thanks, Cathryn. I tried to set the price low (only about $1/Mo in the US!)
so that as many people as possible can get on board.

Why not take advantage of the MONEY BACK GUARANTEE
and at least take a look at the Plus edition? You can't lose!

Check out all the details:

http://langa.com/plus.htm

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2) Free "AntiSpyware" and $20 "Counterspy" The Same?

Hi, Fred.  Love the Plus newsletter and you've taught me much over the years. 
 
One of the things I've absorbed is to be aggressive in not only scanning for and removing spyware from my system on a regular basis but to keep it off the system in the first place.  I use a multi-faceted approach to accomplish this including scan and removal tools Ad-Aware, Spy-Bot Search and Destroy, MicroSoft AntiSpyware and Pest Patrol.  Its this last one that I am writing about. 
 
Pest Patrol has always done a good job for me but I recently received e-mail from Sunbelt Software ( http://www.sunbelt-software.com/ ) informing me that Pest Patrol is no more and offering me a replacement subscription to something called Counter-Spy at half the annual cost of Pest Patrol.  It seems that Pest Patrol is now owned by CA ( http://tinyurl.com/3wj3c ).  Since my subscription to Pest Patrol had not yet run out I decided I had nothing to lose and to try it out.  Once CounterSpy was downloaded and installed on my XP Pro system I was really surprised to see that it looked like a twin of the MS AntiSpyware tool.  Similar looking front end, similar system tray icon, similar looking options, etc.  CounterSpy also located two spyware bugs that all of the others had missed. 
 
This leads me to ponder how two spyware packages from two different companies can end up looking and working so similarly to each other, almost down to the graphic depiction of the scan process.  Are these programs truly different and their similar appearance is just a coincidence?  I don't believe in coincidences.  Or, as I suspect, do I have two versions of the same program?  If the MS program is essentially the same as CounterSpy I see no need to spend bucks for CounterSpy.  Both feature active protection options but which one to use?  On the other hand, CounterSpy did find two spyware bugs that MS missed so maybe its worth it.  You've always said that no single anti-spyware tool can find and catch every bug but how far do you carry that?  Five tools?  Six tools?
 
Thanks, Fred and keep those newsletters coming. ---Richard Bauer

The software that Microsoft licensed for its free, excellent Antispyware tool ( http://search.atomz.com/search/?sp-q=antispyware&sp-a=0008002a-sp00000000 ) was from "Giant Software." In fact, some parts of the MS version still identify themselves internally as "Giant Software."

The messy part of this is that Sunbelt Software apparently is/was a part owner of Giant Software, and has ongoing rights to the malware definitions produced by Giant/Microsoft through 2007. So, there are two tools--- Antispyware and CounterSpy--- that both work from much the same data and do much the same thing.

Because Microsoft is going to give away its version, free, if I were running Sunbelt software, I'd add features and promote the Sunbelt version as offering "everything that Microsoft's Antipsyware does, plus more...." or some such. So far, they're not doing that, though, so users now have a choice between a $20 Sunbelt version and a free Microsoft version that does more or less the same thing. To me, that doesn't seem like a smart long-term strategy by Sunbelt, but what do I know?

As for PestPatrol, I fell off their contact list when CA bought them, and I know nothing about the new CA version. But CA's reputation in the end-user/consumer market has been spotty at best in the past; and the current CA top management has an even worse record in that area, so I'm not pursuing it at all. There are other tools that fill the bill, so why waste time chasing down a tool from a company with a marginal track record in this area?

As of now, I still think one good firewall (Sygate, Zone Alarm...), one good antivirus tool (Norton, NOD32, AVG...), and one good real-time anti-malware tool (I'm using Microsoft's) will catch almost everything. Add in protection from SpywareBlaster and a startup monitor (Mike Lin's StartUpMonitor, WinPatrol...) and periodic scans from tools like Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D, and you'll be locked down about as well as you can be.

Sygate: http://www.sygate.com/
Zone Alarm: http://www.zonealarm.com/
Symantec/Norton: http://www.norton.com/
NOD32: http://www.nod32.com/home/home.htm
AVG: http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_index.php
MS Antispyware: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
SpywareBlaster: http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
StartUpMonitor: http://www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml
WinPatrol: http://www.winpatrol.com/
AdAware: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
Spybot S&D: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

See the next item for important info on using any of these tools with System Restore or Go Back.

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3) System Restore Fights Malware-Removers?

Fred, I am a Langalist Plus subscriber and just have a couple of short questions. (1) I read on Norton's Symantec site to turn off system restore and re -scan the computer if a threat etc was found to be able to check the restored files properly and remove any threats. Should I do this also with my Ad-Aware,Spybot S&D,and Microsoft AntiSpyware occasionally to remove any threats from system restore also?

(2) Since I recently installed SP2 my folder windows open smaller than when I last opened the same folder window. It is a manageable annoyance which means that I often have to open it up larger to use it. Any clues would be welcome?

Thanks for your great self teaching computer school by the way. I couldn't even start up a computer 2 years ago! Regards, Rodney Millroy

System Restore: Yes, System Restore (and similar tools, like Go Back) can actually work against you by restoring an infected version of a system file after you've cleaned the "live" file. Actually, any form of backup can do this, but the problem is more acute with SR and Go Back because they operate more or less automatically: It's easy to forget they're there, and hard to know exactly what they've backed up, and when. So, the safest thing is to turn off SR (or Go Back) at least temporarily when you're scanning or trying to clean something off your PC. In fact, if you have good normal backups, it's not a bad idea to turn off SR or Go Back before scans, and to fully delete the old "Restore Points." That way, when the scan is done, a new restore Point will be created when you restart SR or Go Back, and that Restore Point will be free from malware.

More info: "How antivirus software and System Restore work together" http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;831829 and "Maximizing System Restore In WinME and WinXP" http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20020711S0009

Folder Size: I doubt this is an SP2 thing. Generally, Windows remembers the size and position of your last-used windows, and opens future instances of the same kind of windows in the same way. When the system seems to "forget" how windows were last opened, it sometimes means that a window opened and closed automatically in the background or during startup; that's the "last opened" state that Windows remembers, even though you didn't manually do anything--- you might not even know that such a window was being manipulated by software. You'll have to check your startup process to see if something like that's going on. (See our previous coverage on "Startup Editors" e.g.  http://langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-08-20.htm#5 ) You also can manually control many, many aspects of how windows open: See "Ten Ways To Make Windows XP Run Better" ( http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20011204S0009 ).

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4) "Mind Mapping" Tools

No, they're not tricks used by Vulcans on Star Trek; they're free form "thought organizers" or highly flexible outliners:

Fred, I am sure the Langalist users will be interested in the open source mind mapping tool called FreeMind. Even since I started using it around 9 months back and I am completely addicted to it. I am even using it for making my grocery list (yes - that's a blatant lie). Have a look at it at http://freemind.sourceforge.net  It is a perfect tool for people (I am a non-linear person)  who wants to keep notes, but hates the linear way of organizing things. The tool also provides an applet using which you can publish your maps. For those who still wants to think linearly, it also provides option to export to html.  The current stable version 0.7.1. Don't  forget to look at 0.80RCI with many improved features if you like the tool. Thanks, Afsal C. M

Hi Fred, Just checked your database and discovered you did mentioned BrainStorm several years ago as a "Thought Organizer".  Maybe that's even how I originally found out about it.  At any rate it has over the years gotten a lot better.  May be it's worth another look.  I would also mention the support of this product is second to none.  They really care about their users. This software is aims to be heavy on quick organization of thought and light on formatting and display. Here are some links into their realm: BrainStorm: a very fast way of getting organized; 30-day free trial at http://www.brainstormsw.com/ ; weblog at http://brainstormsw.typepad.com/ .
I would also mention that this link "The BrainStorm Ecology - complementary programs" ( http://www.brainstormsw.com/BrainStormEcology.html ) Is an actual BrainStorm model displaying BrainStorm users response to what is their favorite software that complements BrainStorm and assists in thought organizing.  Not too different from your recent favorites question. Jack Rickards

Thanks, Jack and Afsal!

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5) AOL Owns Rights To Your Words

According to a posting on SlashDot ( http://slashdot.org/ ), AOL has invoked the "all your messages are belong to us" property grab that Apple Computer and Microsoft have both tried in the past (and failed). 

acaben writes "AOL has posted new terms of service http://www.aim.com/tos/tos.adp for AIM, that include the right for AOL to use anything and everything you send through AIM in any way they see fit [ http://www.benstanfield.com/thrash/2005/03/aol_eavesdrops_.html ], without informing you. A sample passage: '...by posting Content on an AIM Product, you grant AOL, its parent, affiliates, subsidiaries, assigns, agents and licensees the irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide right to reproduce, display, perform, distribute, adapt and promote this Content in any medium. You waive any right to privacy.'"

If AOL had problems losing members before, this should enhance it significantly. ---Ken Kashmarek

An AOL public relations spokesman has since said that this policy only applies to posts in public areas; and that AOL won't monitor private discussions. But the official TOS says nothing at all about it being limited only to public posts; or that private conversations are excluded from AOL's "irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide right to reproduce, display, perform, distribute, adapt and promote this Content in any medium." I guess your reaction to this will depend on whether you believe the Terms of Service, or an AOL PR flack....

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6) Recommend This Newsletter And Win!

If you think the LangaList is a worthwhile read, maybe a friend would find it useful too! Just use the following link to recommend the LangaList---your friend may find a new source of useful information and you just may win one of three FREE ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTIONS to the LangaList Plus! edition given each month. (If your name is drawn and you're already a Plus! subscriber, your current subscription will be extended by a full year.)

Check out the details at http://langa.com/recommend.htm . Thanks for recommending the LangaList--- and good luck!

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7) Outstanding Reference Sites

Fred, I'm a first-year Plus subscriber, and have no intention of quitting any time soon. This is one addiction I'm proud of!

I was just pointed to http://www.answersthatwork.com/ from PC Magazine's Top 101 Websites for Fall 2004 ( http://www.pcmag.com/category2/0,1738,7488,00.asp ) which I received, in turn, as RefDesk's Site of the Day for Sunday, March 6 ( http://refdesk.com/ ).

Each of these sites is a gem: AnswersThatWork is a warehouse of, well, answers - exclusively IT - that, while not as wide-ranging as your column, is still very useful, and works on an interesting concept: if and when you find the answer you're looking for, you may very well need it again in the future, so you download the answer article and keep it on your PC or company network for easy access.

The PC Magazine site provides reviews of each of the sites listed, a link (duh!), and in many cases discussion by site visitors. They cover everything from online businesses to major oddities.

Finally, while RefDesk's home page is hideously busy, they do provide a nice service in the Site of the Day and Thought of the Day. Thanks for the fantastic column and advice! Keep it up, Yiftach Levy

Thanks, Yiftach. Good sites indeed!

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8) Code-Load Success Story

Code-loaders Bob and Sherry write:

Would like to say thanks, Fred, to you and Langalist Not only do I pick up some great tips and programs from your newsletter, my site, T Bar T Miniature Horses, had triple the highest one day total of hits in the 3 year history of the site when you published that we had loaded the code. Keep up the good work!
Bob and Sherry, http://www.tbart.net/

Do you have a home page or website? (It doesn't matter what size.) Please click over to http://langa.com/code.htm , and maybe you can join the thousands of LangaList readers who have "Loaded the Code!" (If you've already "Loaded The Code" and are wondering if your site will appear here or on the Langa.Com web site, please see http://langa.com/link.txt )

Speaking of which: Here's another eclectic sample of reader sites--- some professional, some very personal:

View A Randomly-Chosen Reader Site
http://langa.com/randomlink.htm

Manually Browse All Posted-to-Date Sites Starting At
http://langa.com/readersites.htm

Karl's Forums
http://www.karlsforums.com/

Blog or Die
http://www.blogordie.com/

ChainClubs of America HQ
http://chainclubs.com/mhq/news.php

Windows XP Central
http://www.experiencewindows.co.uk/xpcentral/forum/

file-portal.net
http://www.file-portal.net

Nouvelles du Petit Paradis
http://www.nouvelles-du-petit-paradis.info/index.html

"Personal website with random writings"
http://www.nephi.id.au/

familyb castle 3107
http://www.billthome.com/news.php

wedding dream maker
http://www.weddingdreammaker.com/

Help with Firefox
http://myweb.cableone.net/the-reeds/

grannycann
http://www.grannycann.com/linksmain.htm

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9) About that "iPod Alternative..."

Hi Fred. Last week ( http://langa.com/newsletters/2005/2005-03-07.htm#3 ) you talked about the iPod like player your wife has. I had an iPod but had it stolen and am about to buy a new player.  I was interested in the player you talked about but you didn't say what brand it was.

I also like the idea of downloading via WMP. I find iTunes slow and cumbersome whereas WMP is really fast.

Could you tell me the make of the player so I can check it out? I receive your newsletter and am a serious geek and always find it interesting and informative, thanks and keep up the good work.

JP Goodchild (an Aussie in Bangkok)

I wondered about offering more specific info on the player, but that wasn't really the focus of the discussion there, so it seemed inappropriate at the time.

But I'm not trying to hide anything or be mysterious, either: I got my wife a "Creative MuVo TX FM" in the 256MB flavor. This is a tiny, shock/skip-proof (no moving parts) player with a built in FM stereo radio. It's the size of a pack of chewing gum, and weighs about an ounce (call it 30 grams). It'll store 4-8 hours of WMA music, depending on the quality you choose. One AAA battery will power the device for 15 hours. And, unlike some other small players, the MuVo has an LCD screen (backlit for use in poor lighting) so you can see what's playing, and what the device is up to. It's pretty slick and comes with a carry strap, headphones, and ripping/file management software. (You don't really need the latter: you can rip tunes with Windows Media Player, and load the music to the MuVo via normal File Manager functions--- the MuVo plugs into a USB port for loading, and shows up on the system as a normal removable drive. You then can drag/drop or copy/paste music files to the MuVo in totally normal fashion.)

I paid $90 for the 256MB radio-equipped version; omitting the radio drops the priced to $80. You can also get it with more or less memory, which also changes the prices, of course.

It's widely available; you can get it almost anywhere electronics are sold. But if you want to purchase it through a LangaList sponsor's link (any sales there help pay the bills for running this newsletter), click here:
http://langa.com/sponsors/creative.htm

BTW: Here are some hear-for-yourself side-by-side audio samples that compare WMA to MP3: http://langa.com/u/8d.htm

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10) Just For Grins

G'day prof Fred, Many Thanks for Your super newsletters! here's a laff for you. cheers, dar dobs

CatScratch asks:

        Is Windows a Virus?

        No, Windows is not a virus.
        Here's what viruses do:

1. They replicate quickly - okay, Windows does that.

2 Viruses use up valuable system resources, slowing down the system as they do so - okay, Windows does that.

3 Viruses will, from time to time, trash your hard disk - okay, Windows does that too.

4 Viruses are usually carried, unknown to the user, along with valuable programs and systems. Sigh... Windows does that, too.

5 Viruses will occasionally make the user suspect their system is too slow (see 2) and the user will buy new hardware. Yup, Windows does that, too.

Until now it seems Windows is a virus but there are fundamental differences: Viruses are well supported by their authors, are running on most systems, their program code is fast, compact and efficient and they tend to become more sophisticated as they mature.

So Windows is not a virus.

It's a bug.

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11) Plus! Edition Highlights:

• FTP Connection Problems
     (several ways to get it going again!)
• More Toys, Er, Tools For Weather Geeks
     (powerful, practical, tiny--- and FREE!)
• LangaList Kiss Of Death: We Kill Another Site <g>
     (alternate sites for floppy-to-CD archiving tools)

The Plus! edition is only pennies per issue, and comes with a MONEY BACK GUARANTEE from Fred. How can you lose? Check out the details: http://langa.com/plus.htm

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(Give a gift subscription to the LangaList Plus edition!
Click <a href= " http://langa.com/plus_gift.htm ">here</a>)

See you next issue, 2005-03-21!

Best,

Fred
( Editor@Langa.Com )

Please recommend the LangaList to a friend! (And maybe win a prize!)

An easier-to read formatted HTML version is available in the "Current Issue" section of http://langa.com.  (The HTML version of each issue normally is available by 9AM EST [UT-5] of the issue date.) All past LangaList issues are also available at the Langa.Com site.

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